The Coal Tit is a small (11 cm) bird with a
black bib, a black cap forming a crest, a white patch on the nape, whitish
underparts and a gray back. The wings are blackish with two white wing
bars. The bill and legs are black. The Taiwan race ptilosus has a
longer crest, but is otherwise very similar to some of the mainland races.

The Coal Tit feeds on insects, small nuts
and seeds. It is often found in mixed feeding flocks with other species of
tits. It stores food for the winter, and is thus able to survive year-round
in high elevation forests. Sounds of the Coal Tit include a foraging
“pseet” call, and a “tsee see see see see” alarm call.

The Coal Tit is a common resident of Taiwan
year-round in high elevation coniferous and mixed deciduous forests.

References: A Field
Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of
Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei); N. J. Collar, “Endemic
subspecies of Taiwan birds—first impressions”, in Birding ASIA, Number 2,
December 2004